Section 372-A. Child welfare research advisory panel

1. The commissioner
  shall appoint a  child  welfare  research  advisory  panel  which  shall
  consist  of  not  less  than  ten or more than fifteen members and shall
  include individuals recommended  by  commissioners  of  social  services
  districts.  The  panel  shall  also  include,  but  not  be  limited to,
  representatives of the following categories:
    (a)  agencies  providing  child  welfare  services,  including   child
  protective  services,  foster  care,  preventive  services  and adoption
  services;
    (b) advocates  for,  and  recipients  of,  services  to  children  and
  families; and
    (c) social science and child welfare research professionals.
    2.  The  responsibilities of the child welfare research advisory panel
  shall include:
    (a) developing guidelines for the review by the department of research
  projects that seek access to identifying information relating  to  child
  protective  services,  preventive  services, foster care and other child
  welfare programs;
    (b) developing guidelines for ensuring  that  research  projects  with
  access   to   identifying   information   protect   client  privacy  and
  confidentiality;
    (c)  developing  guidelines  for  ensuring  that   research   projects
  satisfactorily  address  the  administrative  and  fiscal  impact of the
  research project on the agency which maintains the information sought by
  such project;
    (d) recommending procedures for facilitating access to  child  welfare
  records  by  approved  researchers  and  for ensuring the cooperation of
  public and  private  agencies  providing  access  to  research  projects
  approved by the department;
    (e) making recommendations concerning dissemination and utilization of
  the findings of research projects subject to this section; and
    (f)  developing  an  agenda for child welfare research in consultation
  with state and local officials.